Indian States by Population 2023
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, a total of 36 numbers. According to Census Population Projection Report, India’s Population in 2023 is estimated at 13,88,163,000 (1.39 Billion or 139 Crore).
Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India and Sikkim is the least populated State. Delhi is the Union Territory with the highest population and Lakshadweep is the least populated Union Territory.
Source: Census 2011 & Census Population Projection report
read more about Population of India
Statewise Population of India 2023
Uttar Pradesh is the highest-population state in India followed by Maharashtra and Bihar. By the year 2024, Bihar’s population will surpass Maharashtra and will become the number two state by population. Similarly, Rajasthan which is at 7 ranks has surpassed Tamil Nadu and is now at number 6, and Gujrat which is at Nine ranks in the 2011 census has surpassed Karnataka and is now at number eight.
Sikkim is the least populated state followed by Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh.
Let’s have a look at the population of States & Union Territories.
Rank | States | 2011 Census | 2023 estimates |
1 | Uttar Pradesh | 19,98,12,341 | 2,35,687,000 |
2 | Maharashtra | 11,23,74,333 | 1,26,385,000 |
3 | Bihar | 10,40,99,452 | 1,26,756,000 |
4 | West Bengal | 9,12,76,115 | 99,084,000 |
5 | Madhya Pradesh | 7,26,26,809 | 86,579,000 |
6 | Tamil Nadu | 7,21,47,030 | 76,860,000 |
7 | Rajasthan | 6,85,48,437 | 81,025,000 |
8 | Karnataka | 6,10,95,297 | 67,692,000 |
9 | Gujarat | 6,04,39,692 | 71,507,000 |
10 | Andhra Pradesh | 49,386,799 | 53,156,000 |
11 | Odisha | 4,19,74,218 | 46,276,000 |
12 | Telangana | 35,193,978 | 38,090,000 |
13 | Kerala | 3,34,06,061 | 35,776,000 |
14 | Jharkhand | 3,29,88,134 | 39,466,000 |
15 | Assam | 3,12,05,576 | 35,713,000 |
16 | Punjab | 2,77,43,338 | 30,730,000 |
17 | Chhattisgarh | 2,55,45,198 | 30,180,000 |
18 | Haryana | 2,53,51,462 | 30,209,000 |
UT1 | Delhi | 1,67,87,941 | 21,359,000 |
UT2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1,22,58,433 | 13,603,000 |
19 | Uttarakhand | 1,00,86,292 | 11,637,000 |
20 | Himachal Pradesh | 68,64,602 | 7,468,000 |
21 | Tripura | 36,73,917 | 4,147,000 |
22 | Meghalaya | 29,66,889 | 3,349,000 |
23 | Manipur | 28,55,794 | 3,223,000 |
24 | Nagaland | 19,78,502 | 2,233,000 |
25 | Goa | 14,58,545 | 1,575,000 |
26 | Arunachal Pradesh | 13,83,727 | 1,562,000 |
UT3 | Puducherry | 12,47,953 | 1,646,000 |
27 | Mizoram | 10,97,206 | 1,238,000 |
UT4 | Chandigarh | 10,55,450 | 1,231,000 |
28 | Sikkim | 6,10,577 | 689,000 |
UT5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 5,86,956 | 1,263,000 |
UT6 | Andaman & Nicobar | 3,80,581 | 403,000 |
UT7 | Ladakh | 274,289 | 300,000 |
UT8 | Lakshadweep | 64,473 | 69,000 |
Source: Census 2011 & Census Population Projection report
Indian states with highest population
Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India. The top 5 populated states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. In 2011 Maharashtra is at 2nd Spot, but Bihar with a higher growth rate (approx 20%) is very close to Maharashtra by 2023-24 it will be at the second spot.
Almost half of the country’s population lives in these five highest populous states & the Ten most populated states of India contribute 74% of India’s population. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during this decade followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The list of the 10 Largest states in India by population is as follows
Rank | States | 2022 estimates |
1 | Uttar Pradesh | 23.32 Crores |
2 | Maharashtra | 12.54 Crores |
3 | Bihar | 12.49 Crores |
4 | West Bengal | 9.86 Crores |
5 | Madhya Pradesh | 8.55 Crores |
7 | Rajasthan | 8 Crores |
6 | Tamil Nadu | 7.66 Crores |
8 | Gujarat | 7 Crores |
9 | Karnataka | 6.72 Crores |
10 | Andhra Pradesh | 5.30 Crores |
Source: Census 2011 & Census estimates 2022
Least Populated States 2022
Sikkim is the least populated state followed by Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh. 12 least populous states/UTs contribute only 1 % of India’s population and the 21 lowest constitute only 10 % of the total.
Rank | States | 2021 (estimates) |
1 | Sikkim | 6.77 Lakhs |
2 | Mizoram | 12.16 Lakhs |
3 | Arunachal Pradesh | 15.33 Lakhs |
4 | Goa | 16 Lakhs |
5 | Nagaland | 22 Lakhs |
6 | Manipur | 31.65 Lakhs |
7 | Meghalaya | 33 Lakhs |
8 | Tripura | 41 Lakhs |
9 | Himachal Pradesh | 74 Lakhs |
Source: Census 2011 and Census Estimates 2022
Indiam Union Territories by Population 2022
India has 8 union territories, Delhi with close to 20 million population is the largest & Lakshadweep is with a population of 74K is the smallest. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are newly formed UTs.
Rank | UTs | 2021 (estimates) |
1 | Delhi | 2 Crores |
2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1.34 Crores |
3 | Puducherry | 15.71 Lakhs |
4 | Chandigarh | 12 Lakhs |
5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 10.77 Lakhs |
6 | Andaman & Nicobar | 4 Lakhs |
7 | Ladakh | 2.97 Lakhs |
8 | Lakshadweep | 68000 |
Source: Census Estimates
Indian States with Highest Growth Rate 2022
As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 12.56% for 2011-2021. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during 2011-2021 of 18.16% followed by Jharkhand and Haryana.
Rank | States | Growth Rate |
1 | Bihar | 18.16% |
2 | Jharkhand | 16.71% |
3 | Haryana | 16.36% |
4 | Madhya Pradesh | 16.35% |
5 | Rajasthan | 15.54% |
6 | Gujarat | 15.49% |
7 | Chhattisgarh | 15.48% |
8 | Uttar Pradesh | 15.11% |
9 | Uttarakhand | 13.02% |
10 | Assam | 12.16% |
Source: Census 2011
Indian States with Lowest Growth Rate 2022
As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 14% for 2011-2021. 10 States have grown at a rate below 10%. In the 2011 census, most of the South & Western Indian States have a growth rate below the national average & in 2021 also they have a low growth rate. Tamilnadu is a state with the least growth rate followed by Kerala & Andhra Pradesh
Rank | States | Growth Rate |
1 | Tamil Nadu | 6.03% |
2 | Kerala | 6.27% |
3 | Andhra Pradesh | 6.30% |
4 | West Bengal | 7.37% |
5 | Himachal Pradesh | 7.80% |
6 | Punjab | 8.13% |
7 | Odisha | 8.40% |
8 | Telangana | 8.56% |
9 | Karnataka | 9.66% |
10 | Goa | 9.70% |
Source: Census 2011
Top Indian States and Union Territories by Area
The top 5 states area-wise are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat. Ladakh is Largest Union Territory by Area followed by Jammu & Kashmir. Goa is the smallest State by Area & Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory.
List of Indians States with Area & Density
Rank | States/UT | Area (sq. km) | Density* (p/km2) |
1 | Rajasthan | 342,239 | 241 |
2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,245 | 282 |
3 | Maharashtra | 307,713 | 404 |
4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,928 | 996 |
5 | Gujarat | 196,024 | 328 |
6 | Karnataka | 191,791 | 356 |
7 | Andhra Pradesh | 162,968 | 334 |
8 | Chhattisgarh | 135,191 | 220 |
9 | Tamil Nadu | 130,051 | 604 |
10 | Telangana | 112,077 | 355 |
11 | Ladakh | 96,701 | 3 |
12 | Bihar | 94,163 | 1349 |
13 | West Bengal | 88,752 | 1127 |
14 | Arunachal Pradesh | 83,743 | 19 |
15 | Jharkhand | 79,714 | 492 |
16 | Assam | 78,438 | 459 |
17 | Odisha | 55,707 | 842 |
18 | Himachal Pradesh | 55,673 | 135 |
19 | Uttarakhand | 53,483 | 213 |
20 | Punjab | 50,362 | 596 |
21 | Haryana | 44,212 | 645 |
22 | Jammu & Kashmir | 42,241 | 327 |
23 | Kerala | 38,863 | 926 |
24 | Meghalaya | 22,429 | 152 |
25 | Manipur | 22,327 | 143 |
26 | Mizoram | 21,081 | 60 |
27 | Nagaland | 16,579 | 139 |
28 | Tripura | 10,486 | 401 |
29 | Andaman & Nicobar | 8,249 | 51 |
30 | Sikkim | 7,096 | 986 |
31 | Goa | 3,702 | 432 |
32 | Delhi | 1,484 | 12803 |
33 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 603 | 1028 |
34 | Puducherry | 479 | 2990 |
35 | Chandigarh | 114 | 10254 |
36 | Lakshadweep | 32 | 2317 |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates* Density based on 2021 Estimtes
Largest & Smallest State by Area
# | State/UT | Area (sq. km) |
Largest State | Rajasthan | 342,239 km2 |
Largest UT | Ladakh | 96,701 km2 |
Smallest State | Goa | 3,702 km2 |
Smallest UT | Lakshadweep | 32 km2 |
Largest & Smallest State by Density
# | State/UT | Density (p/km2) |
Highest Density State | Bihar | 1349 p/km2 |
Highest Density UT | Delhi | 12803 p/km2 |
Least Density State | Arunachal Pradesh | 19 p/km2 |
Least Density UT | Ladakh | 3 p/km2 |
* Density based on 2021 Estimates
Indian States by Literary Rate
As per the 2011 Census, India’s literacy rate in 2011 is 73%. The male literacy rate is 80.90% & the female literacy rate is 64.60%. The literacy rate in Urban is 84.10% & 67.80% in rural India. Kerala has the highest literacy rate ( 94%) & Andhra Pradesh (67%) is the lowest.
read more about Literacy rate in India
Indian States by Female Sex Ratio at birth
The sex ratio at birth In India for the period 2015-17 (3-years average) has been estimated at 896. At the National level, it is 898 in rural areas and 890 in urban areas. Among the bigger States/UTs, the sex ratio at birth varies from 961 in Chhattisgarh to 833 in Haryana.
In the rural areas, the highest and the lowest sex ratio at birth are in the States of Chhattisgarh (985) and Haryana (828) respectively. The sex ratio at birth in urban areas varies from 950 in Madhya Pradesh to 816 in Uttarakhand. Chart 32 depicts the variation in sex ratio at birth by residence among bigger States/UTs in the country.
Read more about Sex ratio in India and states
Indian States by Area
Indian States by Religion
Indian States by Fertility Rate
Indian States by Literacy Rate
Most Populated Cities
List of distrits in India
Indian States by Sex ratio
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